Method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant-reflector defrost heater

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, is a curved reflector combined by means of electrical insulators to a discrete heating means to form an apparatus to reduce ice buildup on a heat pump system&#39;s exterior unit heat exchangers through a non-reverse cycle defrost, via an apparatus which can be installed into a newly manufactured heat pump or by the retrofit of said apparatus onto an existing heat pump system, on site at location, said apparatus operating a non-reverse cycle defrost; independent of and uninterrupted by the said heat pump system&#39;s reversing valve defrost cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The field of endeavor, of the invention, is in the heating and air conditioning technical field, as pertains to the exterior unit of heat pump and air conditioning systems.

[0003] The subject matter of the claimed invention is centered around the said exterior unit, the function of which is to act as the heart, veins, lungs, and soul of said system, having a compressor that pumps, by means of tubing thru the air circulation system of the heat exchange coils, fed by a forced air fan.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] 1. The soul of the heating and cooling process center is the said exterior unit's, heat exchange system, which is located outdoors in a harsh environment, with an unimpeded access of the weather elements of rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, cold, and extreme heat, which drastically reduces the said heat exchange effect, by;

[0006] A) introducing moisture per water, directly into said air circulation system, which interacts with cold unregulated winds to freeze-up the said tubing and reduces or totally stops air flow due to:

[0007] a) the lack of adequate weather protection,

[0008] b) the unavoidable placement, of said exterior unit, in weather conditions, which by nature are the total opposite of conditions needed for the optimal heating and cooling exchange functions of the fluid refrigerant conduit, employed by said exterior unit's compressor,

[0009] 2. Where as, the use of said heat pumps to transfer heat from an exterior atmosphere, into a conditioned space, has been plaqued by continuous problems, such as:

[0010] A) a defrost cycle system, which employs the use of heat, which has been laboriously taken from the winter air and returned excessive amounts of said heat from the interior conditioned space, into the heat exchangers, of the said exterior unit, to remove ice buildup, by means of,

[0011] a) a reversing valve, activated by a defrost timer control, through the use of a solenoid valve, causing a changeover, of the heating mode, to an air conditioning mode, which results in the following reactions,

[0012] 1) as stated, heat from the interior conditioned space, is transported to the cold winter outdoors,

[0013] 2) the cold, from the winter outdoors, is transported into the interior conditioned space,

[0014] 3) the interior heating elements, or other alternate heating source, but generally costly electric energy, is activated to continue the heat requirements of the said interior conditioned space,

[0015] b) the fan of the said exterior unit, is energized to move forced air flow through the heat exchangers of the said exterior unit, causing the air of the cold winter outdoors to be moved through the heated coils of the said heat exchanger, thereby, giving off valuable heat back into the cold winter outdoors,

[0016] 3) Therefore, the use of the method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater will be a solution, to the said problems, by means of:

[0017] A) electrical resistance type heat elements positioned, within heat exchange contact of the heat exchange coils, of the said exterior unit, which will act to,

[0018] a) direct heat onto the said heat exchange coils, by curved metal reflectors,

[0019] b) transfer heat into the fluid refrigerant used within the said heat exchange coils, with said heat pump system remaining in the Heating On Mode,

[0020] c) remove ice-buildup, from said heat exchange coils, by directly aiming radiant heat directly upon said heat exchange coils, via reflected radiant heat.

[0021] B) an exterior unit fan, which will be turned to the off mode, eliminating the wind chill effect, of the harsh cold winter outdoors, and also eliminating the electric cost of the said exterior unit fan, during the defrost cycle mode.

[0022] 4) The following is a descriptive history of the use of electric heaters, via a resistance type to Issued Patents;

[0023] A) A. F. Hoesel, a pioneer in the field of cooling unit defrost, was issued a U.S. Pat. No. 2,229,569 on Jan. 21, 1941, with patent claims on an invention with, and Iqoute “electrical lamps surrounded by a reflector”, in a system for “cooling air below 32 F.”, due to the limitations of the wording of the Hoesel claims, this invention is for a Refrigerator; A heat pump system is a heating and cooling unit for cooling air to 50 F. and heating up to 90 F.; since the present invention's claims are limited to the heating mode of a heat pump system, the Hoesel Patent therefore has NO Bearing on this novel, unique, and unobvious approach taken by the present inventor since, in-fact over sixty (60) years has passed and the reflector defrost heater has not been obvious for a heat pump system.

[0024] B) A. H. Eberhart, was issued a patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,189,085 on Jun. 15, 1965, for an electric heater, and the following information clearly establishes that the Eberhart Patent has NO Bearing on the present invention, because, the Eberhart patent claims:

[0025] a) “an electric heater, with a motor propelling air over said heater, to warm air and defrost the heat exchanger”,

[0026] b) “a device for effecting energization of said motor at a reduced speed to cause air to be propelled over said electrical heater”,

[0027] c) “control means . . . for simultaneously effecting energization of said heater and connecting said device in said circuit”,

[0028] d) “means for propelling air over said heater and through said heat exchangers”,

[0029] e) “and an electrical supply circuit for fan”,

[0030] f) “a switch movable . . . said switch in its first position conditioning a first electrical circuit for energizing said compressor and said motor, said switch in its second position conditioning a second electrical circuit excluding said compressor and including said motor and said heater”,

[0031] C) The Eberhart patent claims are limited to it's wording, and is flawed with out-of-date technology which is hereby described, as;

[0032] a) No heat pump system produced presently ultilizes a fan to propell air over the heat exchangers,

[0033] b) Heat pumps presently produced utilizes a fan to propell air away from the heat exchangers, creating an air suction circulation, simply put, the fan is above heat exchangers, aimed away from heat exchangers, blowing air into the exterior atmosphere,

[0034] c) the placement of Mr. Eberharts electric heater in a position to facilitate the fan motor to propel air over the electric heater, would only blow warm air into the exterior atmosphere,

[0035] d) the Eberhart control means are for a fan to blow air over an electric heater system then over the heat exchangers, which is flawed to the point of being obsolete,

[0036] e) the Eberhart patent - DID NOT claim a reflector,

[0037] f) the Eberhart patent - DID NOT claim an external mounting position,

[0038] g) the Eberhart patent - DID NOT claim the component ability to be retrofitted to a previously installed heat pump system,

[0039] h) the Eberhart patent DID NOT CLAIM, placing the fan in the offmode, during a defrost cycle,

[0040] i) the Eberhart patent DID claim to operate the fan in the on-mode, to propell air, over the electric heater and the said heat exchangers.

[0041] D) The following are patents, which have been issued for electric heaters in heat pumps:

[0042] a) Chen, et.al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,502, which is a “Heat Pump having improved defrost system”, utilizing an electrical resistance heater, issued on December, 1998.

[0043] b) Thurman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,497, which is a “Freeze-up prevention device for a heat pump”, utilizing a resistance type element,

[0044] Therefore, Eberhart does not hold, nor did he ever hold exclusive rights to an electric heater, his patent claims were and are limited to the extent of it's wording, which, when read indicates that the Eberhart patent is out-dated, since no heat pump presently constructed could use the Eberhart claimed invention,that the Eberhart claims hold NO Bearing on the present invention.

[0045] Therefore, the present invention is novel and unique, the inventor's approach is the unique combination and placement of the parts required to form said apparatus and method of using a system of control means, switching means, timer means and temperature means in an unobvious approach to defrost the heat exchangers of a heat pump system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The present invention relates to a novel method and manner of facilitating the non-reverse cycle defrost of a heat pump system, by means of the external mounting of an apparatus, consisting of a curved reflector combined by means of insulated attachment with a discrete heating means, which can be installed into a newly manufactured heat pump or via retrofit of said apparatus onto an existing heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, on site at location; said apparatus to reduce ice buildup, independent of and uninterrupted by the said heat pump system's reversing valve defrost cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The following, is a list of all figures, by number, with corresponding statements explaining what each figure depicts;

[0048] A) FIG. 1, depicts a fully assembled weather shield and solar heat collector per reflector, part A, which is a patented invention by the same inventor, and also a protective cover for present invention.

[0049] B) FIG. 2, depicts a top oversight view, of said weather shield part A, displaying a view of all sides of the protective cover.

[0050] C) FIG. 3-A, depicts an exploded view of the said protective cover part A, displaying the inner portion of the side panels, of said protective cover, with part 27, a junction per distribution box attached to said protective cover, for the safe housing and distribution of wiring, thru part 33, the wiring conduit pipe or tubing, for said distribution of wiring, to part 35A, the electrical resistance type heat element, part 35B, the electrical insulator and part 35C the curved metal reflector; which in combination parts 35A, B, and C forms the radiant-reflector defrost heater part 35, and the exterior unit exchanger coils, part(s) 37.

[0051] D) FIG. 3-A, also depicts said curved metal reflector, part 35, with an enlargement view of said part 35, showing details of reflector curvature, brackets for attachment to heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger parts 37, with electrical resistance type heating element, part 35A, electrical insulator, part 35B, the curved metal reflector, part 35C, and wiring terminals 35D.

[0052] E) FIG. 3-B, depicts an electrical wiring diagram, with electrical symbols indicating;

[0053] 1) 24 volt pilot control wiring and the following parts;

[0054] a) Air sensor device, part 31 comprising; 31A-fusable link, 31B-low pressure switch, 31C-timer, 31D-limiter thermostat, 31E-relay,

[0055] b) Reversing valve changeover solenoid switching ability, part 32,

[0056] c) Fan Relay with control ability, part 36A,

[0057] 2) 220 Volt power supply wiring and the following parts;

[0058] a) a defrost timer, part 28,

[0059] b) a fan motor, part 29,

[0060] c) the electrical resistance type heating element, part 35A,

[0061] d) fan contactors, part 36B,

[0062] e) a defrost limiter thermostat, part 30.

[0063] F) FIG. 3-B, also depicts the Heat Mode.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] The following, is a description of the specifications required to explain, the manner and process, of making and using the present invention, a method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, which acts as a non-reverse cycle defrost system to reduce ice buildups on a heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, and to reduce the frequency of the heat pump system's conventional reverse cycle defrost, by the use of electrical heat directly aimed toward said heat exchanger by means of a curved reflector.

[0065] The following directions, should serve as a basic guideline, to produce, the said method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater;

[0066] A. The said apparatus part 35 should be constructed with electrical resistance type heating elements part 35A, attached by means of electrical insulators part 35B, to a curved metal reflector part 35C, positioned within heat exchange contact with the heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger by means of attachment, such as bolts, rivots, screws; and the said curved metal reflector should be aimed directly toward said heat exchanger.

[0067] B. Since the size and shape of heat pump systems may vary, the apparatus part 35, can be tailored to conform to the said heat exchanger configuration, such as;

[0068] 1) a ring shape or circular tube shape to surround a circular styled heat exchanger,

[0069] 2) individual curved reflectors, with electrical heating elements, individually placed on each side of a square shaped heat exchanger.

[0070] C. All wiring should meet the National Electric Code Standards for supplying a source of power and for pilot control wiring.

[0071] D. The following are component parts required to facilitate the energization and, or, de-energization of said apparatus:

[0072] 1) part 28, a defrost timer, per FIG. 3-B, in an operable relationship to facilitate a source of electrical power, via normally closed contacts to said heat pump system's exterior unit fan, part 29, during the Heat Mode Cycle of said heat pump system, and with normally open contacts to part 35A, said apparatus, electrical resistance type heating elements.

[0073] 2) said defrost timer, part 28, should be wired in an electrical circuit, per FIG. 3-B, to facilitate a timed non-reverse cycle defrost of said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, via said apparatus, part 35A, upon a pre-determined timed interval,

[0074] a) by means of the mechanical movement of contactors within said defrost timer, part 28, to close said normally open contacts which will facilitate an energization of said apparatus, placing said apparatus in the On-Mode,

[0075] b) and by the simultaneous mechanical movement of contactors within said defrost timer, part 28, to disconnect the normally closed contacts, thereby de-energizing the heat pump system's exterior unit fan, placing said fan in the Off-Mode.

[0076] 3. part 30, a defrost limiter thermostat, should be wired, per FIG. 3-B, within the electrical circuit, which forms the source of power for part 28, said defrost timer;

[0077] a) to facilitate the function of placing part 28, in the Off-Mode upon a pre-determined temperature event, commonly known as the temperature above the freezing point for said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchangers.

[0078] 4. part 31, an air sensor, which comprises;a) 31A-a fusable link, 31B-a low pressure switch, 31C-a timer, 31D-a limiter thermostat, and 31E-relay contactor: to regulate a predetermined time interval for a defrost by said apparatus to commence and complete uninterrupted by the said heat pump system's conventional reverse cycle defrost,

[0079] b) a low pressure switching ability which will facilitate a reverse cycle defrost by energizing the heat pump system's reversing valve when the air flow has remained stopped after the predetermined time interval of part 31 has been exceeded, and with automatic reset logic for said timer.

[0080] 5. part 36A, a fan relay with fan relay contactors, 36B will pilot control the said part 28, defrost timer, by means of pilot control voltage initiated by the heat pump system's conventional main control thermostat within the conditioned space.

[0081] 6. part 27, per FIG. 3-A, a distribution per junction box, is for the electrically safe housing of said component parts, and distribution of wiring.

[0082] 7. part 33, conduit, is for the electrically safe distribution of wiring.

[0083] 8. the previously described apparatus and components can be installed within a newly manufactured heat pump system, during factory assembly by manufacturer.

[0084] 9. the previously described apparatus and components can be installed by a service technician skilled in the art of heating and air conditioning by means of a Retro-fit onto an on site at location operable heat pump system, by means of manufactured packaging as a unit, which can be manufacturally tialored to differring styles and models of existing heat pump systems presently in use.

[0085] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, may also find useful application in other types of construction; significantly differing from the unobvious approach taken by the present inventor.

[0086] The present invention has been illustrated and described as is previously stated, as being a method and apparatus for an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, is novel and unique by combination and location of it's parts.

[0087] It is conceded that there may be many modifications of the details, shown in the drawings, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the following claims.

[0088] What I claim as new and desired to be protected by letter patent is set forth in the appended claim(s): 

I claim:
 1. A method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, for a heat pump system, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and the conditioned space, to reduce ice buildup on the heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, by means of a non-reverse cycle defrost apparatus, comprising; a discrete heating means, attached by means of electrical insulators to a curved reflector to form said apparatus, disposed within heat exchange contact with the external surface of said heat exchanger, positioned with said apparatus aimed toward said heat exchanger.
 2. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 1 , further including; a method which incorporates a system of control means, timer means, and switching means to faciliate operating the said heat pump system in the heating-on-mode, the said heat pump system's exterior unit fan in the off-mode,and said apparatus in the on-mode during a pre-determined time interval of a non-reverse cycle defrost by said apparatus, to commence and complete uninterrupted by the said heat pump system's reversing valve defrost cycle.
 3. A method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, for a heat pump system, in an operable relationship for transferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and a conditioned space, via a fluid refrigerant, wherein the heat pump system's exterior unit fan is mounted in a position to mechanically propell air flow upward in a direction away from the said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, said method and apparatus comprising; a method which incorporates a system of control means for effecting the de-energization of said heat pump system's exterior unit fan, establishing a total cessation of the mechanically propelled air flow, during a non-reverse cycle defrost of said apparatus.
 4. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 3 , further including; wherein, said apparatus is a curved reflector combined by means of electrical insulator attachment to a discrete heating means.
 5. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; wherein, said method and apparatus can be installed during manufacturer assembly, externally mounted to said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger.
 6. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; wherein said method and apparatus can be installed via a retrofit, to the external surface of a heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger in an operable relationship for transferring heat from an exterior atmosphere and the conditioned space on location site of said conditioned space.
 7. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; a protective cover enclosure, to protect said apparatus from the weather elements.
 8. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; a method which incorporates a system of sensor means to facilitate a reverse cycle defrost of said heat pump system, upon a predetermined time interval in which the air flow has been stopped for a period of time exceeding the required time interval of a non-reverse cycle defrost of said apparatus.
 9. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; a method which incorporates a system of temperature control means to facilitate the operation of the non-reverse defrost cycle of said apparatus to be placed in the off-mode during a pre-determined temperature of above the freezing point for said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger.
 10. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; a distribution-junction box for the electrically safe housing of said control means, switching means, timer means, and temperature control means.
 11. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 4 , further including; conduit for the electrically safe distribution of electrical pilot control wiring and electrical power supply wiring.
 12. A method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, for a heat pump system, in an operable relationship for tranferring heat between an exterior atmosphere and a conditioned space, via a fluid refrigerant, wherein the heat pump system's exterior unit fan is mounted in a position to mechanically propell air flow upward in a direction away from the said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger, said method and apparatus comprising; a method which incorporates a system of control means for effecting the energization of said apparatus, while simultaneously effecting the de-energization of said heat pump system's exterior unit fan.
 13. The method and apparatus of an externally mounted radiant reflector defrost heater, of claim 12 , further including; a method which incorporates a system of temperature control means for effecting the de-energization of said apparatus during a predetermined temperature of above the freezing point for said heat pump system's exterior unit heat exchanger. 